stream in 2018. With this capacity addition, Serum Institute will increase in manufacturing numbers from 1.3 billion to about 1.8 billion doses of various vaccines annually. The company aslo plans to supply a few high tech vaccines to the European and US market, starting with DTaP vaccine. This is an acellular pertussis vaccine containing purified antigenic components of B Pertussis viz Pertussis Toxoid( PT), Filamentous Haemogglutinin( FHA), Pertacin.
This DTaP vaccine is currently undergoing tests at the National Institute of Biological Standards and Control( NIBSC), UK, a world leader in characterization, standardization and control of biological medicines. NIBSC plays a major role in assuring quality of biological medicines globally through the provision of biological reference materials by testing a product and carrying out research.
BRAI BILL IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVISION, TO BE REINTRODUCED: Y S CHOWDARY
While speaking in the Parliament on August 03, 2016, Mr Y S Chowdary, Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences informed that his ministry has proposed to set up an independent regulator for biotechnology including genetically modified( GM) crops. " To achieve that the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Bill( BRAI) Bill, 2013 was introduced in 15th Lok Sabha and was lapsed with the tenure of the same. BRAI Bill 2013 has now been revised taking into consideration recent developments in genetic engineering technologies for reintroduction through appropriate legislative process," he stated.
Meanwhile, the Minister noted, that as an interim measure to implement the best practices contained in the BRAI Bill, establish a separate office dealing with biosafety issues it is proposed to get Genetically Engineered products within the existing regulatory framework under the Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro-organisms / Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells( Rules, 1989) of the Environmental Protection Act( EPA), 1986.
" The proposed Office of Biotechnology Regulation will have an Inter-Ministerial Board represented by senior officials of concerned ministries for overall supervision along with strengthened risk assessment and management system through a functional unit of multidisciplinary scientists," the Minister added.
IMPORT & EXPORT OF BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES ARE LICENSE FREE NOW
After many representations by the industry bodies and senior members of bioscience industry, the government has finally allowed hassle-free import and export of various biological samples by removing the mandatory requirement of an export or import license for the biological samples. The decision was notified by the Director General of Foreign Trade( DGFT) through Notification number 19 / 2015-2020.
Generally, every such sample handling had to be authorized by the Indian Council of Medical Research( ICMR). With the new notification, amending the existing rules that made it mandatory to get import or export license, an organization has to only give a self-certification to the customs authority that they
will follow all the applicable rules, regulations and procedures for safe transfer and disposal of the biological samples.
WORLD BIOFUELS DAY CELEBRATED AT DELHI
" There is a large potential of biofuel business in India to grow from present Rs 6500 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore in the next 10 years," mentioned the Minister of State( Independent Charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Dharmendra Pradhan while speaking at the National Conference on the World Biofuel Day in New Delhi on August 10, 2016. He said that the Prime Minister has set a target of 10 percent import reduction in crude by 2022 and biofuels can play an important role in achieving the target.
On the occasion of World Biofuel Day, National Conference on‘ Energy Security for India – Creating a Bio-fuel Economy’ was organized. The World Bio-fuel Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the anniversary of the successful working of a diesel engine, run on peanut oil, by German innovator Rudolf Diesel in 1893. The National conference brought together stakeholders of the Bio-fuel sector viz., the Government, Public Sector Undertakings and the Private Sector.
Ministry of Petroleum Natural gas has given a big push for the Ethanol blending program and is close to achieving 4 % blending during the current sugar year. The bio diesel blending program which was started a year ago on 10 August 2015 as a pilot in 5 cities has now been extended to 6 states and Bio- diesel blended diesel is sold through nearly 2200 retail outlets in the country. The Government has also allowed production of ethanol from alternate routes.
biotech
GOVT TARGETS 1 LAKH BIOGAS PLANTS DURING 2016, ALLOCATES RS 142 CRORE
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy( MNRE) is implementing the National Biogas and Manure Management Programme( NBMMP) for setting up of family type biogas plants in rural and semi-urban areas of the country. A target of 1,00,000 biogas plants has been fixed for the current year. This information was given by Mr Piyush Goyal, Minister of State( IC) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha( upper house of Parliament) on August 01, 2016.
Mr Goyal further said that the family type biogas plants generate clean gaseous fuel particularly for cooking and meeting lighting needs and replaces use of fuel wood, avoid cutting of trees thereby reducing pressure on forests. Biogas plants help in reducing emission of Green House Gases( GHGs). A budget allocation of Rs 142 crore has been provided for the Biogas Programme for the current year, 2016-17.
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